World’s first submarine-launched drones that swims and flies poses new threat to US
China has reportedly developed a drone that can perform underwater and aerial operations. The submarine-launched drones also have a higher survival rate in marine battlefields, as per claims.
The latest Chinese drone is developed as Beijing fears the United States could soon deploy underwater drones near the Asian giant’s waters to launch surprise swarm attacks on PLA during a possible Taiwan conflict in the future.
However, China claims that its latest drones are more advanced than those being used by the Pentagon’s UUV (unmanned underwater vehicle) division.
Unique foldable wing design
Developed by researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) and the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC), the drone is the first of its kind in the world and has a unique foldable wing design. This helps it to move across water-air media multiple times in a single journey.
Chinese researchers claim that the drone’s design improves its concealment and survival in different mediums.
Published in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, a journal run by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the latest technology combines the advantages of efficient underwater navigation and high agility in the air.
Drone can conduct reconnaissance, and attack operations
Named ‘Feiyi’ by Chinese researchers, the drone is claimed to have great application potential in military fields and can conduct marine reconnaissance, surveillance, strike, and attack operations.
Feiyi’s underwater navigation abilities are particularly impressive, with its travel efficiency surpassing that of most existing cross-media drones. This is mainly because its four pairs of rotating blades for flight can flip and fold like human arms, allowing the irregular blade surfaces to cling tightly to the fuselage, thereby greatly reducing water resistance, reported SCMP.
The drone has tail-mounted propellers, which provide it powerful propulsion and steering for underwater operations.
China’s new drone takes five seconds to submerge
The cross-medium drone is claimed to have the capability to maintain an upright posture in rough waves while reaching the surface. The drone can then spread its four arms to soar into the air. While landing on water, the drone takes five seconds to submerge as the drone’s wings fold.
The project team, led by NWPU associate professor Dong Changyin, maintains that the drone, with the support of artificial intelligence technology, can autonomously complete “certain missions with specific requirements.”
By contrast, the drones planned to be used by the US military need to be transported to the surface in a torpedo-like tube and have no mobility under water. Then, after leaving the sea, they must stay in the air, so they are more susceptible to attack, according to SCMP.
China’s NWPU and CARDC are leading the development of advanced technologies, including cutting-edge weapons such as hypersonic vehicles, in the Asian country.
Reports have revealed that Beijing also plans to develop multiple types of cross-media weapons, some of which could use solid-fuel ramjet engines for high-speed cruising in aerial and underwater mediums.
A report published by the think tank Center for a New American Security (CNAS) also predicted that a potential future conflict between Taiwan and China would be shaped by novel methods of drone warfare involving advanced underwater drones and increased levels of autonomy.
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